442 Major Areas Being Offered Across the Sunshine State

Eighth grade students will be part of the first high school class to participate in the major area of interest reform program.

"This way you can get into college and high school knowing what you wanna do and not just messing around," said Isabelle Ghini, who will choose a major area.

The list is out; school districts across the state now have access to an online database, identifying which of 442 major areas of interest each particular high school could offer.

"There are multiple opportunities for children of all ability levels, of all interest areas, and we are just delighted to be able to move forward right now with this initiative," said Cheri Pierson Yecke, K-12 Public Schools Chancellor.

Each district offers an average of about 130 choices, without affecting curriculum or staff, but the reform is drawing mixed reaction.

"I think it's presenting a full package and making us responsible as teachers to work as a team," said Kelly Little, a Chiles High School teacher.

"Some of the choices they have, like I wanna be a dentist. They don't have a course about dentistry, so I am gonna have to take something about science," said Bishoy Aneen, who has mixed feelings about reform.

Lee Fagan teaches Fairview Middle School students and said, "We told them they are just getting started with this program and that more will be offered even further down the line."

Educators say the experience of finding a major could help students decide what to do after they graduate.

Though all students must select an area of study, they don't have to graduate with a particular major and aren't locked into their choice.

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